Jeff's Reviews

Thoughts on every movie I've ever seen.

Contagion (2011)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Starring Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard

Author

Through understated, natural performances from an exceptional cast, really good make-up, unobtrusive photography and editing, and a Cliff Martinez score that beats with urgency and gloom, Soderbergh creates a realistic sense of apocalyptic desperation. It’s very real and very scary.

Soderbergh continues his love affair with Matt Damon. They work well together. I’m quite surprised Paltrow took such a minor role. She must have really wanted to be a part of the film. Her death scene is horrifying.

An interesting exploration of the complex situations and emotions caused by a pandemic. The scientific dialogue and media coverage seem appropriate and legit. If this is how smart and on-top-of-it these CDC people are in real life, I’m impressed. Soderbergh deftly weaves texting, blogging, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube into the plot, one of the first realistic depictions of the prevalence of social media in a mainstream movie.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *